SMETS 1 (no so!) SMART Meter

[David_1224]

Has anyone had success or experience of getting a Smart meter changed out?
I'm kind of stuck at the moment in that my meter's a SMETS 1 device and although my current provider is capable of taking half hourly readings, I can benefit from "power save" events when offered, I'm having difficulty getting any alternative suppliers (Octopus, E.ON) to confirm they would actually be able to read it if I switched.
Obviously with a PV/Battery installation I'm more than a little keen (particularly at this time of year) to access a flexible tariff which current supplier doesn't offer.
I've checked out the DCC website on SMETS 1 upgrades and accessed a tool which states my meter "ought to be working in SMART mode" but that doesn't sound like a definitive, "Yes any supplier can read it"
My dilemma is that if I switch and the supplier cant read it I'd only be offered their standard tariff and on top of that I'd loose SEG payments from my current supplier and from what I can see the best SEG rates from the alternative suppliers are tied in with being able to access a flexible tariff. i.e. fully readable Smart meter.
I should add that current SEG payments require submission of a photo of the export reading rather than it being read automatically which leave me feeling there's functionality there that even my current provider can't access. I've got a neighbour with Octopus and a SMETS 2 which reads import / export remotely and he doesn't have to submit anything for SEG.

Any thoughts?

 

[7029 Dave]

No they cannot read it if you switch, smet2 is needed.

 

[Oldman22]

Ask your current supplier to fit you a 2nd gen meter, they are supposed to be migrating all 1st gen meter users over anyway. Once you have the 2nd gen meter fitted you can move suppliers. I wouldn't move until its done.

 

[David_1224]

Thanks for the input.
Kind of figured that would be the case.
Not sure that the incumbent will have any incentive to make the change as they are able to read all they need from the current meter.
Added to which energy suppliers are only incentivised to install smart meters in place of old analogue meters.
As a result they don't really care when an installation goes dumb or stops communicating with in house displays (making them effectively dumb to the end user but probably still capable of saving the supplier from sending out a meter reader) .
Swapping a smart meter for another smart meter doesn't add to the overall tally and they're not credited for it. Tends to equal "not interested"

I'll obviously give it a go but I'm not going to hold my breath.
Very frustrating.